Officially Official: Obama's Emissions Announcement

After Texas secession, the many UN-patriots down here will: - Shake our heads in pity as the debt-based Imperial Court in D.C. runs its client states into authoritarian ruin and violence. - Revoke all fascistic "tax breaks" for any private enterprise. - Engage in peaceful commerce with all other nations of the world to became the world-leader in technical and societal innovation, instead of invading them.

I can see by the comments here that higher education hasn't reached the minds of many americans. Obama is a genius and his cabinet contains some of the best people in the world for their respective jobs. This legislation not only is long overdue, but similar standards have already been set in most developed countries for a long time now. Hats off to them for pulling this off. Hopefully, the standards will continue to rise steadily after 2016 as well.

The problem with this solution is that it is an attempt to achieve environmental ambitions while retaining the status quo of low-density suburban housing, separated work and live zones, long commutes and the 3000-mile caesar salad. First, as a poster mentioned, it will only affect new vehicles entering the fleet. It will take years, if not a decade, to see any meaningful reduction in the net fleet consumption. A gas tax has the potential to prompt change in consumption patterns for both new vehicles and the existing fleet. Higher fuel taxes would promote a change in how we structure our living arrangements. Cities would be encouraged to do away with zoning restrictions and allow mixed-use development that mean people could actually live close to where they work. Higher fuel prices would enter into the calculation when deciding whether to buy a bigger house in the 'burbs an hour from the office, or to buy a smaller place only minutes from work. It would take a generation, but higher fuel prices will slowly encourage real change in how we live, and real benefits to the environment and to "energy security." CAFE-type requirements are merely a bandaid on an oozing wound. And best of all for the "freedom"** junkies higher gas taxes without CAFE restrictions mean you can still buy that gas-guzzling truck or sports car, and drive it as much as you like if that is a priority for you. **I love how the most vocal proponents of "freedom" would seem to support politicians that implement warrantless wiretapping policies

Since I have nothing to hide, the government could listen to every one of my phone calls and I'd not care at all.